Mechanical Technician
- US citizenship
How this pay compares
This posting states $62.4k–$93.6k a year. Open technician jobs in California post a median of $73.9k a year, the middle half $61.6k–$83.2k, across 24 jobs that state their pay, so this one is within the middle half of what they post.
About the job
## Mechanical Technician Location: Playa Vista, California (in-person, five days per week) ## The return lane isn’t going to build itself. Come build it with us. Outpost is an orbital logistics company rewriting the rules of global logistics by building reusable Earth-return vehicles that unlock in-space manufacturing, on-orbit warehousing, and 60-minute global delivery through space.
Our CarryAll vehicle family returns payloads ranging from 200 kilograms to 10 metric tons, lands within 10 meters of its target, and can then be refurbished and launched again.
One vehicle, many missions: responsive logistics and precision delivery for national security; commercial cargo moved with real cadence; R&D payloads flown, tested, and refined across repeatable cycles; and critical aid delivered where roads and runways can’t reach. The demand is already here, validated through defense and civil agreements and supported by a growing pipeline of government and commercial customers.
We have the customers, the team, and a clear technical path ahead of us. We’re building the return lane. Come build it with us. ## The Team We're looking for a Mechanical Technician to build and integrate the structures and mechanisms that make up Outpost's return vehicles. This is a hands-on role on the machine shop floor, working from engineering drawings and work instructions to build flight hardware.
You'll work closely with mechanical engineers and the integration and test team, and your work will directly determine whether hardware is built right the first time. ## Responsibilities - Assemble, integrate, and inspect mechanical structures and mechanisms for the return vehicle - Follow detailed work instructions and engineering drawings to build flight hardware - Support fit checks, torque, and fastener installation to spec - Assist with vehicle-level integration, including structural and mechanism installs - Support test campaigns, including setup and teardown of test hardware - Maintain clean, organized, and safe work areas - Document work performed and flag discrepancies to engineering ## Qualifications - High school diploma or equivalent required, associate's degree or technical certification in mechanical or manufacturing preferred - 5+ years of hands-on mechanical assembly, fabrication, or technician experience, ideally in aerospace or a similarly high-precision environment - Proficiency reading engineering drawings, GD&T, and assembly work instructions - Experience with hand tools, torque tools, and precision measurement equipment - Familiarity with composites, machining, or structural assembly - Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality and safety standards - Ability to work on your feet in a factory/lab environment ## Preferred Experience - Experience with composite layup, bonding, or precision machining - Background in aerospace, automotive, or other precision manufacturing - Experience with clean room or ESD-sensitive procedures ## Compensation - Competitive compensation: $30-$45 hourly salary (non-exempt, overtime eligible), based on experience - Additional Compensation : Annual performance-based bonuses that reward your impact. - Shared upside: Meaningful equity in Outpost so you share directly in the value you help create. - Comprehensive healthcare : Medical, dental, and vision coverage to keep you and your loved ones covered.
We cover the base tier of medical insurance and all premiums of vision and dental. - Protection when it matters : Company-provided short- and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind, plus life insurance for even more security. - PTO : Recharge on your own terms with paid time off, plus 9 days of paid holidays. - Invest in your future : 401(k) with company match to help you build long-term wealth. - Fueled for the mission : Daily DoorDash lunch stipend, plus unlimited snacks, coffee, and tea to keep you energized. - Mission that matters: Work shoulder-to-shoulder with leaders from aerospace, new space, and deep-tech industries building the future of orbital infrastructure. - Pet Friendly Office : Bring your furry friend into the office so that they can be a part of our mission too. - Monthly Company Happy Hours and Events: Drinks at the local bar, hibachi nights, mini golfing and more!
You must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 , or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S.
From Outpost's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
Selected agencies hiring now
NESC Staffing (Nesco Resource)Engineering and technical staffing agency
Engineering and technical staffing firm placing engineers, designers, technicians and manufacturing staff on contract and direct hire.
Places: Mechanical, Avionics, Systems & Test, Technicians
Chipton-RossEngineering and technical staffing agency
Aerospace and defense engineering staffing firm with offices in El Segundo, Long Beach and Playa Del Rey, California, Charleston, Pascagoula and Newport News, placing engineers, designers and technicians on contract and direct hire.
Places: Mechanical, Avionics, Systems & Test, Technicians
These agencies and apps pay SpaceJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Employers' own jobs below keep their own order.
Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay SpaceJobs.Now when you click one.
Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.
New space manufacturing and technician jobs in California, by email
One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.
About Outpost
Reusable infrastructure for space logistics and manufacturing.
Pay on its listings: 92.9% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
How it pays: Paid as an employee on Outpost's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).
More open jobs at Outpost
- Senior PCB Designer$130,000–$170,000/yr
- Payload Engineer$140,000–$170,000/yr
- Mission Design Engineer$150,000–$180,000/yr
- Senior Aerothermal Analysis Engineer$170,000–$225,000/yr
- Senior Dynamics and Loads Engineer$170,000–$225,000/yr
- Vice President, Marketing$175,000–$250,000/yr
More space manufacturing and technician jobs
- Senior Manufacturing Engineer I - Avionics & Test$115,200–$144,000/yr
- Senior Manufacturing Engineer II - Avionics & Test$132,000–$176,000/yr
- Manufacturing Engineer$100,000–$130,000/yr
- Manufacturing Engineer (Tanks)$68,000–$80,000/yr
- CNC Lathe Machinist I and II, Prototype Shop$29–$40/hr
- Manufacturing Engineer, Machining & Additive Associate (Winter 2027)$1,925/wk
A certified technician, machinist or welder?
One profile for every employer here. Space companies and their recruiters ask us for people with a specific degree, clearance, specialty or location: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.
Outpost openings, sent to you weekly
Each week we send the newest postings from Outpost's own careers site, along with similar openings at other space employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.